Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday stressed the need for expediting the implementation of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) to strengthen multimodal connectivity between the Northeast, the rest of the country and neighbouring nations, according to an official release.
The KMTTP is a strategic India–Myanmar initiative aimed at linking India’s Northeast with the sea via Haldia by integrating sea, river and road transport routes through Myanmar. The project connects Haldia to Sittwe Port, Paletwa and onward to Zorinpui in Mizoram through the Kaladan river and road networks, offering an alternative to the congested Siliguri Corridor and boosting regional trade and economic development.
The project has also been designed to bypass Bangladesh in view of evolving geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Saha made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the high-level task force on infrastructure and connectivity development in the Northeast. The meeting was chaired virtually from New Delhi by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The chief minister said the Northeast has immense potential for development, particularly in infrastructure and communication networks, and underscored the need for coordinated efforts to address challenges faced by the region in road, rail, air and inland waterway connectivity, as well as in electricity, gas and digital infrastructure.
He emphasised the importance of identifying priority sectors for the region’s development, including regional infrastructure macro-grids, power, oil and natural gas, tourism and border trade. Saha also presented a proposed roadmap outlining measures for advancing these sectors.
ALSO READ: Law and order improving in Tripura with major drop in crime: CM
“The implementation of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project will play a crucial role in strengthening multimodal corridors and enhancing both regional and international connectivity of the northeastern states,” the chief minister said.
Besides Scindia, senior officials of the DoNER Ministry and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma also participated in the meeting.
